Materials

RECOUP conference pushes plastic industry to ‘seize the day’ on plastic recycling

Plastic recycling charity RECOUP has announced it will be holding its Plastics Recycling Conference on 27 September 2018 and will be challenging delegates to answer whether the plastics industry has done enough to “seize the day” and make the most of the opportunities afforded by the explosion of interest in plastic waste.

Plastics waste has cemented itself at the top of the public news agenda in recent times, thanks in large part to David Attenborough’s BBC series Blue Planet II, and the surge in public interest in plastics pollution has not gone unnoticed by the nation’s politicians. The government put plastics front and centre of its long-awaited 25 Year Environment Plan, committing the UK to eliminating ‘avoidable’ plastic waste by 2042, while the Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced a consultation on the use of the tax system to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, and Environment Secretary Michael Gove revealed plans to implement a deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic, glass and metal drinks containers in England, among a raft of other policies.

The conference will take place at the KingsGate Conference Centre, Peterborough, on 27 September 2018, and will seek to question whether the UK plastics supply chain is doing enough to demonstrate its proactivity in dealing with the issue of plastic waste, by going beyond the minimum legal requirements and showing real leadership on the subject.

The conference has secured sponsorship from RPC BPI Recycled Products, as well as from Aura Soma, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) and Plastics Europe, in association with PIRAP, Tomra Sorting Solutions and Eastman.

Speaking after the announcement, Mike Barney, RECOUP Chairman, commented: “It is time for change in plastic resource management, and that is what is happening. We encourage all stakeholders to join the expected 300+ delegates at our annual conference to share the collective expertise and enthusiasm across RECOUP members and wider networks. It is indeed time to seize the day.”

Stuart Foster, RECOUP CEO, added: “It has been an exceptional year with a significant increase in membership support, unprecedented levels of corporate and consumer interest in plastics, the environment, resources and recycling. RECOUP is a leading authority on plastic waste and resource management and will continue to deliver in this space as the UK’s plastic recycling value chain co-ordinators.”

David Bellamy, RECOUP patron and environmental campaigner, confirmed his ongoing support, saying: “I am pleased to say that after many years as patron of RECOUP, the organisation continues to play a critical role in the development of UK plastic resources and recycling. Ensuring that this valuable resource is recycled is a key part of developing a circular economy, improving resource security, and achieving environmental responsibility.”

To register to attend the conference at the KingsGate Conference Centre, Peterborough, on 27 September 2018, visit the dedicated conference page on the RECOUP website.